Spent the weekend camping out at the Bovay boy scout camp. Freaking ROCKED. I love my crew. I think it helped me break the block!
Quickie: going to be doing a weird switch between people/ flashbacks
"this is Sess inu" "[This is Amaya/Inryoku]" "This is a inu flashback"
Muse for this chapter: Cracks by freestylers ft. Belle Humble & Cute is what we aim for- Navigate me (go listen!)
Warnings: OOC characters. AU. Male/male suggestions/relationships. Bad words!
Read and Review!
(Day Before the night of the new moon)
"You say the prince is unaware of this, yes? Then it would be most beneficial to do so the first time. Once he discovers this, he will most certainly be on guard. We would have the element of surprise" the silver haired woman drawled, twirling a beautiful jade pendant between her fingers. She had thick silver hair held back by two clips out of her face. Her fingers were small and delicate, with black talon like claws tipping them off. Her clothing was a swath of black materials clinging tightly to her thin frame. Here eyes were shining with malice, and glittered cruelly even in the dark.
Her abode was richly decorated, she had marble statues and gold glittering from every corner, though the home was actually carved out of a mountainside. Clearly, she horded it, most likely from past requests.
"That's what I want. I want him to be on guard for me. For him to be helpless despite everything he tries. Tonight we will merely observe." The blonde smiled pleasantly at the woman. She grinned back wickedly.
"What do I get out of this? I am a woman of simple desires." Greed shone in her eyes as she motioned to the expensive gold and large handcrafted decorations.
"Whatever you might wish for." He allowed his energy to cackle around him. She shivered, hungrily appraising him. His power was great, and not hidden in the least, he flaunted it haughtily, his yokai spilling across the room. Perhaps he would be useful.
"I seek only for youth."
"I don't see a trace of age upon you Amaya .." he trailed off.
"Mine is temporary. I seek it forever." She presented him her hand, "This skin will not last" She then passed her hands over her face, revealing the small wrinkles and a showing her silver hairs.
He picked up a mirror and moved in behind her, Dipping his hands in her hair he ran it down like a comb, instantly black hairs replaced silver. He smoothed his fingers over her face and she watched in fascination as it appeared rejuvenated.
She gripped the mirror tightly between her hands, staring.
"What have you done!
"Aid me and I will aid you. I have power that one of your age cannot hope to achieve yet. I have skills you have not learned and will find in no book. Yet I cannot do many things that one of your kind can. My powers are much more suited to direct combat. A fallen priestess of tainted purity. You would do well to take my tutelage."
Increased power and infinite youth. Things sounded good to her.
"Yousei! Go and find this Inuyasha. Observe what happens tonight and come back." A large fluffy white weasel with horns scampered across the floor towards them. He hissed at the man, long fangs and red eyes glaring in anger, a red jewel in the center of his forehead flashing.
"Here" she presented the animal with a piece of Inuyasha's clothing, that had been torn the night of Inryoku's encounter. The
"Now, Shoo! Get you nasty beast." She affectionately stroked the animal before it scampered out of the doorway.
"Now. Inryouku, was it?" the blonde mage nodded. "If what you suspect is indeed true, how would you like to go about using this? Should it wait till next month?"
"No." he murmured. "If things go well tonight, as I suspect they will, I believe that things will be easier than I imagined. We will discuss this later."
The dark miko nodded, folding down onto a crimson futon. She closed her eyes in concentration, linking her consciousness with Yousei.
She muttered under her breath, "I will watch and see what happens tonight. Yousei will have reached them by nightfall." inryoku nodded and seated himself, watching as she focused her power around her.
(Day of the night of the new moon)
The same steady stride that had lulled him to sleep the night before gently pulled him from it in the morning. Inuyasha yawned cutely, then layed against Sesshoumaru's shoulder. He stared with empty eyes and felt numb. Today was the night of his weakness. He would be human tonight, something that the demon prince detested more than hanyou's. He couldn't stay with him, he would have to run. It was the least he could do, stay out of the mans sight. Sesshoumaru would never accept him as a human and he didn't want to cause the man any more trouble. He didn't deserve anything that had happened to him. Kagewaki should have killed him. Tears built in the back of his eyes but he blinked them away rapidly, and shut down his thoughts.
Sesshoumaru paused slightly, the scent of unshed tears hitting his nose. He glanced at the child briefly, not pausing in his steps. What could it be now? The child has been listless since he awoke. Perhaps he is still tired. Sesshoumaru had no idea of the mental turmoil that the child was suffering, nor what was in store for him once the sun faded and moon gained dominance.
"Sesshounaru-sama I want to walk." The child's voice broke his thoughts and the prince set him on the ground.
"As you wish." his eyes followed the child inquisitively, observing the careless attitude the child now carried.
"Something bothers you?" he asked carefully.
The hanyou looked up at him in alarm, before jerking his head into his chest. His hands picked uncertainly at his clothing.
"n-No!" he stated firmly. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
In a movement too fast to see, Inuyasha found himself upside down, clothed feet held firmly in Sesshoumaru's arms.
"Do you lie to me?" Sesshoumaru eyes held Inuyasha's, his mouth a thin line of displeasure.
Inuyasha squeaked, face turning red.
"hanyou" Sesshoumaru said warningly.
"I'm j-just not used to traveling like t-this. J-just tired." Inuyasha said, his eyes breaking contact with the matching golden orbs. Blood rushed to his face as he was held there, Sesshoumaru seemingly searching the child's face for answers.
Getting none, Sesshoumaru growled, his face coming in close, noses almost touching. "Should I find out that you are lying, I will leave you strung from a tree." He flipped the boy but didn't let him down, instead holding him loosely to his chest.
"Next time, tell me." Inuyasha nodded and guiltily hung his head, simply gripping around the armor plate and laying against the fluffy thing Sesshoumaru had wrapped around a shoulder.
"Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Hnn"
'What is this?" Inuyasha stroked the long boa, enjoying the softness of it.
"It is a piece of my true demon."
"Where h-has it been before?" Inuyasha asked, still stroking the soft material. "F-fluffy" he whispered.
Sesshoumaru felt something like mortification at that, and instead focused on just answering the childs questions.
"I can seal it away if I wish."
"Is it like tail?" the excitement in Inuyasha's voice was undeniable. Sesshoumaru opened his mouth for instant denial, but quickly changed his answer at the fascinated look in the childs eyes.
"Something like that, yes."
"Sesshoumaru-sama has a tail!" the hanyou practically bounced in his arms both his hands wrapping around the length of fur and snuggling tightly against it. The prince felt his face heat up slightly.
"Does this please you?" Sesshoumaru looked down at the hanyou in his arms.
"Y-yes!" He exclaimed happily
"Is that so…" Sesshoumaru trailed off.
Inuyasha blushed, carefully removing his hands from the plush fur. "Sorry I-I didn't mean to touch.."
Sesshoumaru smirked. "Since you have touched me so much, do I not gain the same right?" his voice was teasing, and Inuyasha's face only flushed more.
"Y-y-yes"
The daiyokai purred, sounding pleased, and then brought an arm out to play with silky ears. At first they flicked back nervously, however the child soon relaxed into the gentle caress, his ears and head pushing eagerly into the prince's slender fingers. How sensitive.
Sesshoumaru continued to stoke the half breeds puppy like ears and run his hands through the childs hair as the walked.
As the day passed, Sesshoumaru stopped for food, teaching the hanyou various things about the outdoors. Inuyasha observed hunting and fishing, building a fire and how to cover and follow basic tracks. He was compleaty devastated when he put a small tear in his new robes, but Sesshoumaru had quickly assured him that it would fix itself, though he would have someone teach the child more about sewing in the future.
Overall, as night grew closer, Inuyasha felt his last day with Sesshoumaru had gone well, and he hoped he wouldn't regret it. Though a sick feeling of guilt stayed in his belly, making him unable to eat much, he found himself enjoying more and more of the princes company.
"Hanyou, we have covered considerable distance. It will not take more than two days more if I carry you as I have. A break for tonight will be permitted by this Sesshoumaru."
Inuyasha sagged with relief. He had been unable to think of a way to escape the prince while they walked, but if they spent the night camping, then maybe he could sneak off.
"Okay." Inuyasha answered, then began to collect wood and twigs like Sesshoumaru had shown him earlier, and soon they had a roaring fire. Sesshoumaru didn't really need it, but he felt that for the child a fire would be better than none.
Having followed them from afar, yousei now watched from off in the bushes, awaiting orders from his mistress.
["Yousei has reached them." Amaya stated. The blond inuyokai nodded, unable to contain the excitement that he felt tonight. If things all went as he suspected, the half breeds human night would be the fatal weakness to the bond the two demons shared. The council had early on deliberated this topic, making it easy knowledge that Inryoku had never thought he would need. Now however, it would only serve to put revenge in his hands. The very moon would be their weakness. Inryoku grinned, eyes savage, feeling giddy. If only he too could watch what Amaya saw, sadly, he was not linked to a shikigami like her.]
Inuyasha waited nervously. He would have to make his move just before he transformed. If he left to early Sesshoumaru would grow too suspicious. If he left just before though, maybe the change in his scent would confuse the daiyokai and throw him off. The hanyou fidgeted across the fire from the daiyokai, his glance constantly flickering over towards the melting sunlights.
Sesshoumaru however, simply relaxed against a tree, he sat, reclining against it. With one leg regally outstretched and the other pulled up, with an arm resting across the top. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to doze slightly, sensing nothing but another group of humans some ways off. His nose wrinkled at this, his distaste for them showing briefly. The smell of them was pure sweat and blood and he could hear their rowdy voices as they entered the area. Perhaps a group of bandits. No matter, should they come closer, he would simply end their lives. Shadows grew as the sun dipped low, darkness mere minuets away.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, I need t-to go to the bathroom." The pink colored lids opened, and regarded him coolly. A dismissive nod was given. Inuyasha jerked up, edging out of camp. He didn't want to go too far yet, knowing Sesshoumaru would be watching him. As if to make sure, he glanced back, meeting the sharp golden gaze of his guardian for a handful of seconds. Ducking under a branch he went further into the tree's out of sight of Sesshoumaru. He heard the demon call, and immediately his pace picked up before he was running as fast as he could.
[[He's running!" exclaimed Amaya, still sitting and connected with her weasil. "Yousei! Bite" Her surprise was genuine. How interesting. She felt a smile grow on her face, this would be fun indeed.
"Don't Kill him!" Inryoku screamed next to her, having jumped up and rushed over.
"I won't! Yousei will simply confuse him more. He will suffer from his past."
"He can't escape Sesshoumaru, not as a hanyou or human."
"Fret not. I wish to see what his ideas were. I will creat a barrier that hinders Sesshoumaru from finding him. However, doing so through yousei will cause it to be weak. It will only last a short time. "
"Do it."
Yousei, help him. ]]
He couldn't hear anything save his own harsh breaths and clumsy steps of his feet. Besides him, Yousei jumped out of the brush, launching himself at the child [Yousei, Bite!] Inuyasha yelled, tumbling to the floor in shock as the weasil raked his fangs lightly across his hand. The barest of scratches appearing.
[[Yousei, help him]] Yousei looked back towards were the demon lord himself was coming, the jewel on his forehead glowed, and he hissed as he released energy from it, forming a barrier around the child, it clung to him in a staticy form of energy before growing up and outwards.
"Run"
"M-mama?" Inuyasha choked out. Crawling upwards he stood again and began to run desperately. His mind swirled and he ran not from Sesshoumaru but from his past.
"M-mama! Please!"
"Inuyasha, run. Get away from here!" she spoke, coughing with blood from her lips. "They know I won't be long, please you have to get out of here."
"n-no mamma no!" he shook her frail frame desperately. Tears fell freely from his face, each drop crashed down on her consciousness, she hurt to see him like this. Her baby.
"Inuyasha" she reached tenderly up towards him.
"They will hurt you if you stay. Get away from here. Hide. I love you." she murmured, her hands caressing across his face, body, one last ear tweak.
Inuyasha smiled down at her. "I love you too" he whispered tearfully.
"Good. Don't let the villagers hurt you. They will surely be here soon." He clutched at her, hatred burning for the illness that wracked her body. He kissed at her face and soaked up the last affection she could give him.
"Run Inuyasha. Run. I love you" Inuyasha nodded and slipped out of the room, running into the forest. He could already hear the angry villagers arriving, screaming profanities,
"The witch is dead! Find the hanyou!"
As soon as he felt he had run far enough, he released a long and mournful howl, his pain reverberating through his chest and spreading through the forest. Little did he know, this would cause his first night alone to be hellish, demons called to him by his own cries.
Inuyasha stumbled through the forest, his mind conjuring images from his past. His yokai drained from him, immediately his senses dulled and the darkness became enhanced. Unable to see, hear, or smell as well as before, he crashed about in the forest. He felt something inside him snap and energy briefly crackled around him, stinging him and causing a sharp pain in his eye. He clutched at it, dulled fingertips digging into the soft skin of his face.
[[ "It has broken! The magic doesn't work on humans!" Amaya cried giddily. A predatory smirk spread across Inryouku's face and a wicked gleam entered his eyes.
"Good." ]]
"This is what you bring me? A hanyou?" the one eyed buff man yelled, thrashing the child. Inuyasha had been dragged asleep from a cave, and corralled in with other humans.
"He's a rare find." another male chuckled.
"No good. We'll use him for work." the scarred man yelled, flinging the filthy child away.
"Always wanted a slave of me own. Sure his demon side won't be a hassle?"
"Oh no" the large man chuckled, his eyes staring evilly down at the boy, "the mutt won't give us any, if he knows whats good for him!" both men burst out in laugher and Inuyasha shook, crying softly.
Inuyasha choked as he ran, remembering the years he had served the slavers. He tripped, hands landing on sharp rocks. Yet he stood and continued to run, he had to get away.
"No, I want him." a smooth dark voice entered. The large man with eye patch turned in surprise. There stood a smooth, black haired male, with a lithe form and feminine looks. He had deep chocolate eyes, looking black. They were filled with greed at the sight of the child.
"You will? My good sir, it is but a hanyou. We have many other fine servants" he motioned towards the cages of other smaller children, and a few low level yokai.
"The half breed will do" The large bald man grabbed the child by the hair and yanked him forward. The battered child stood shaking, bruised face shoved upwards by the yank of his hair.
"Yes. He is the one I seek."
"What do you say mutt?" his hair was tugged mercilessly.
"h-hello M-Master" the man dropped him, allowing Inuyasha to fall into a trembling bow.
"Don't stutter!" the black haired demon growled, his foot descending on tiny fingers, cracking them. Inuyasha held back a cry.
"Yes, Master."
More memories of kagewaki swam inside his head, the warm memories of his mother fading back, His head was swimming with fear and confusion, and Inuyasha lost track of what around him was real and what was created only in him imagination.
Sesshoumaru felt slight alarm as the child left his vision, but stayed still, listening in to the childs movements. The minute he heard the boy run, he stood in alarm.
"Hanyou!" Sesshoumaru called, and then sprinted off after him. The short distance that the child covered would have been easy for the prince to leap, but suddenly the most sickening feeling entered him. A pulse of energy ran through him, and he felt Inuyasha called him before it broke. Something just shattered inside his chest. Every muscle in his body went painfully taught as something inside him compressed, he stopped breathing as it grew tighter and tighter. Pain clouded his mind before the energy snapped and exploded. Sesshoumaru had to stop, as emptiness flooded his body and he doubled over. Something inside his head seamed to scream, and it rang in his ears, piercing them. His hand crushed the tree it had been holding, brows furrowing. Inuyasha! The energy that had tethered him to the child was loosening, and the prince felt anguish spread. It hurt like no flesh wound ever had. Gasping now, he pushed though the pain and dashed forward. He couldn't be dead. The only way to break the bond was to kill one of them.
"No!" he roared. He could still smell the child, but as he tried to get closer, the scent changed, before Sesshoumaru could identify exactly what it was he was smelling, it dropped. Simply disappeared from his senses. Sesshoumaru grew frantic, though his face remained set in cold anger. His body hit a weak barrier, and he tore at it, attempting to break it. It shimmered under his hands before he drew his blade and sliced at it. Despite his efforts it held, and sparks flew as each attack was rebounded off.
Sesshoumaru snarled, his eyes bleeding red. Inuyasha! The blade dropped from his grip as his claws and fangs elongated.
Inuyasha had dropped to all fours, racing along the forest floor like a dog. He was confused, and scared for his life as he ran. He had no idea that the small weasil from earlier followed him still, nor that he was heading straight towards the human camp.
He broke the bushes, and crashed into hard, hot flesh.
Screaming, he thrashed as the group around him jumped up in alarm.
"Shit! What the fuck!" the man he landed on yelled, smashing the childs face into the ground.
"What the fuck is that?"
"A human kid!" one of the men yelled.
A chuckle entered the room.
"What you running from boy?" Inuyasha whimpered, his mind forcefully dragged into reality.
A knife gleamed in the firelight, shining cruelly. It was soon pressed against his neck.
"Come ta' join us, eh'. Want a bandits life?" the men around the camp laughed. Inuyasha shivered against the cool steel.
"P-please"
"Got anythin' fancy?" Hands frisked his body, finding nothing worth anything.
"Bastard. Hid it some place" one of the men cursed.
Inuyasha wriggled out of the grip and fled towards the tree's but was caught and thrown against a large trunk. Four men surrounded him, they stunk of sweat and alcohol. Each of them was dressed in something like a soldiers uniform, with armor plates covering parts of their large bodies. Inuyasha shook his hands coming up to cover his face.
"Nice clothes ya' got there" one of them teased, his hands roughly fisting the fire rat material.
"Never seen anythan' like it" another's greedy voice entered.
Inuyasha closed his eyes tightly, blood and tears streaking down his face, cleaning small tracks in the dirt. He shuddered as hands gripped him tightly.
Jingling whistled through he air before a large thwak! was heard and suddenly, the hands were torn from him. Unconscious bodies fell hard to the ground as a gold topped staff smashed into the thick rogues skulls.
"Are you okay?"
Inuyasha yelled and launched himself into the mans arms.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" he cried sobbing.
"N-no wait! I'm not…him" he finished lamely at the child snuggling into his arms. Fine. He grumped inwardly.
"Shh. Shh. Its okay. Please, call me miroku"
The voice broke into his mind and Inuyasha glanced up fearfully.
His dark slate gray eyes widened with fear. He pushed away frantically.
"No! No! Shhh! Come now, I will not harm you. These men cannot harm you any longer. I am a monk, please relax" Miroku rubbed his hand across the child's back.
"Where is your family, I can help you get back to them?"
"N-no I r-ran. I don't know. Please…" the child whispered.
Miroku looked quizzically at the child. He shrugged, whatever. He still couldn't leave him in the woods alone. He picked up the boy gingerly, helping to set him on his feet. Sensing something strange he quickly pulled out two sutra's. One he slapped across the childs forhead, dissipating the strange barrier he felt on the child. The other he launched into the trees, aiming straight for the demon he sensed.
Yousei jumped away, but none the less took his leave. He hissed and squeaked before dashing off, heading back to his mistress.
Sesshoumaru pulled his fist hard back, and smashed it into the barrier. It cracked under the pressure of his yokai, shattering. He picked up Inuyasha's scent, though it was completely foreign to him, being was mixed with something odd. Worry anger and alarm grew within him as he rushed forward towards it. Inuyasha had run right into the human camp!
ANNN that's all. Hope you liked it! Yousei is soooo cute :) he so fluuuffaaayyy and if he wasn't evil here then i would bet y'all would love him.
Sesshy meets inu and miroku next chapter. Cool beans.
Inryoku (I keep spelling that different…) has found a really big weakness in the bond and is gonna exploit it faster than a hobo on a ham sammich.
Please review. Im addicted. I havn't been getting very much…so, please, give me your thoughts, comments, preferences and ideas! L Its all I ask in return for my hard work!
LOVE YOU GUYS!
